Economics students at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania calculated it would require one quadrillion tons of steel and take more than 833,315 years to obtain the supplies.

However, Haynes said: “This is the most thorough technical guide to the Death Star available. It traces the origins of the Death Star, from concept to a top secret project.

“In this manual, the Death Star’s on-board systems and controls are explained in detail, and are illustrated with an astonishing range of computer-generated artwork, floor plans, cutaways, and exploded diagrams.”

The surface of the Death Star is covered by a vast city sized sprawl (Lucas Films)

The new Haynes manual also reveals some surprising details about the Death Star.

It reveals that despite having almost unlimited resources and manpower, the Empire turned to private contractors to build the space station – which was a joint project between the Imperial Department of Military Research and Sienar Fleet Systems.

The 74 mile wide space station apparently has a crew of 342,953 and is capable of carrying 843,342 passengers and enough supplies to last three years. It has a cargo capacity of one million kilotons.

An interior view of the Death Star (Lucas Films)

The book also describes how the garbage squid that Luke Skywalker and Han Solo encounter in the 1977 film was bred on the space station to consume much of the rubbish produced on board.

Perhaps most intriguingly the book also features details that did not appear in any of the films, including an insight into the recreation facilities on board the Death Star.

These include a refreshment bar, a running track, locker rooms, benches, weight machines and a callisthenics area.

However, the concept of the Empire's feared Imperial Stormtroopers taking part in mass callisthenics sessions is likely to dent their fearsome image.